SUMMARY OF THE CSD
INTERSESSIONAL AD HOC WORKING GROUP ON INFORMATION FOR
DECISION MAKING AND PARTICIPATION AND ON INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION FOR AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT:
12-16 MARCH 2001

The Commission on
Sustainable Development’s Intersessional Ad Hoc
Working Group on information for decision making and
participation and on international cooperation for an enabling
environment met at UN Headquarters in New York from 12-16
March 2001. The session was held in accordance with resolution
1997/63 of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
establishing ad hoc working groups to assist the
Commission with preparations for CSD sessions, and decision
8/8 of the Commission at its eighth meeting and a subsequent
Bureau recommendation to hold an intersessional meeting on
information for decision making and participation and on
international cooperation for an enabling environment in
preparation for the ninth session of the Commission for
Sustainable Development (CSD-9).

The session’s
deliberations were based on the Secretary-General’s reports
on information for decision making and participation and on
international cooperation for an enabling environment.
Participants’ output consisted of four documents: a summary
of the discussion on each theme and outlines of elements for
draft decisions for action-oriented decisions on each theme at
CSD-9. The outputs are also intended to highlight political
issues that require ministerial input at CSD-9, which is to
take place from 16-27 April 2001, in New York.

Most of Wednesday afternoon
and Thursday and Friday were dedicated to informal
consultations on controversial aspects related to indicators
in the elements for a draft decision on information for
decision making and participation. During Friday’s Plenary,
which was scheduled to conclude discussion on the revised
draft decisions on both issues, the Co-Chairs announced their
intention not to have a second reading, but to forward the
documents, as revised, for CSD-9 consideration. Several
delegations opposed including text on indicators in the
elements for a draft decision on information for decision
making and participation as a basis for negotiations at CSD-9.

In their assessment of the
session, many participants acknowledged the usefulness of the
outputs as a starting point for CSD-9 negotiations. However,
it is expected that many will revert back to positions held at
the start of the session, while others may adopt a
"package deal" negotiating strategy by linking this
session’s themes, with those of transport, energy and
atmosphere to be dealt with at CSD-9. There is also an
expectation that CSD-9 will be one of the most difficult
sessions in the history of the CSD, due not only to the lack
of consensus on several issues but also to the approaching
Earth Summit 2002.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CSD

The CSD emerged from Agenda
21, the programme of action adopted by the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in June
1992. Agenda 21 called for the creation of the CSD to: ensure
effective follow-up of UNCED; enhance international
cooperation and rationalize intergovernmental decision making
capacity; and examine progress of Agenda 21 implementation at
the local, national, regional and international levels. In
1992, the 47th session of the General Assembly set out in
Resolution 47/191 the CSD’s terms of reference, its
composition, guidelines for the participation of NGOs, the
organization of work, its relationship with other UN bodies,
and Secretariat arrangements. The CSD held its first
substantive session in June 1993 and has since met annually.

In June 1997, five years
after UNCED, the General Assembly held a Special Session
(UNGASS-19) to review the implementation of Agenda 21.
Negotiations produced a Programme for the Further
Implementation of Agenda 21. Among the decisions adopted at
UNGASS was a new five-year CSD work programme, which
identifies sectoral, cross-sectoral and economic sector/major
group themes for the subsequent four sessions of the CSD.
Overriding issues for each year are poverty, and consumption
and production patterns.

CSD-6 met from 20 April to 1
May 1998. Participants considered the economic theme of
industry and the sectoral theme of strategic approaches to
freshwater management. They also reviewed implementation of
the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and
discussed the cross-sectoral themes of technology transfer,
capacity building, education, science and awareness raising.

CSD-7 met from 19-30 April
1999 to consider the economic theme of tourism, the sectoral
theme of oceans and seas, and the cross-sectoral theme of
consumption and production patterns. Participants also
prepared for the UNGASS review of the Barbados Programme of
Action.

CSD-8 met from 24 April to 5
May 2000. Participants considered the economic theme of
sustainable agriculture and land management, the sectoral
theme of integrated planning and management of land resources
and the cross-sectoral themes of financial resources, trade
and investment, and economic growth. The conclusions and
proposals in the final report of the Intergovernmental Forum
on Forests were also discussed, as were preparations for the
ten-year review of UNCED.

CSD ENERGY EXPERT GROUP:
The multi-year programme of work for the CSD, adopted by
UNGASS in 1997, mandates CSD-9 to consider the sectoral theme
of atmosphere/energy. At CSD-7, the Ad Hoc Open-Ended
Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Energy and Sustainable
Development was formally established to prepare inputs to
CSD-9, and governments, civil society and other major groups,
including the private sector, were called upon to actively
participate in the preparatory process.

The first session of the
Expert Group met in New York from 6-10 March 2000, and
considered reports of the UN Secretary-General on "Energy
and sustainable development: Key issues" and national
submissions, and produced a Co-Chairs’ summary of the
discussions. Delegates also agreed on an intersessional
programme of work and a provisional agenda for their second
session.

The second session was held
in New York from 26 February to 2 March 2001, and focused on
key issues relating to energy, energy efficiency, renewable
energy, advanced fossil fuel technologies, rural energy and
energy-related issues in transportation, and regional and
international cooperation. Delegates failed to reach agreement
on a number of contentious issues, most notably nuclear energy
and international cooperation. Delegates agreed to forward to
CSD-9 a heavily-bracketed, revised Co-Chairs’ proposal for
elements for the draft decision on energy.

CSD INTERSESSIONALS ON
TRANSPORT AND ATMOSPHERE: The
Commission on Sustainable Development's Intersessional Ad
Hoc Working Group on Transport and Atmosphere met in New
York from 6-9 March 2001. Delegates considered the
Secretary-General's reports on transport and on protection of
the atmosphere and prepared two documents on each theme, one
summarizing the discussions and the other outlining possible
elements for action-oriented decisions to be taken at CSD-9.
The draft elements under each theme highlight the aspects
dealing with international cooperation and recommendations for
action at the national level. Both draft elements documents
were adopted as negotiated text for CSD-9.

REPORT OF THE INTERSESSIONAL AD HOC
WORKING GROUP

CSD-9 Chair Bedrich Moldan
(Czech Republic) opened the session and invited delegates to
consider organizational matters. Delegates elected by
acclamation Alison Drayton (Guyana) and Madina Jarbussynova
(Kazakhstan) as Co-Chairs. Co-Chair Drayton introduced, and
delegates adopted, the agenda and other organizational matters
(E/CN.17/ISWG.II/2001/1). She noted that the session would
produce: Co-Chairs’ summaries on each theme that reflect the
discussions, positions stated by delegations and alternative
views; and concise, action-oriented papers on elements for
draft decisions for negotiation at CSD-9.

Delegates held Plenary
sessions to discuss each of the draft reports, following which
the Co-Chairs prepared summaries on each topic and the draft
elements for decisions for each, which were also discussed in
Plenary and in informal consultations.

INFORMATION FOR DECISION
MAKING AND PARTICIPATION

Delegates formally discussed
information for decision making and participation during three
sessions. On Monday, 12 March, the Secretariat presented the
Secretary-General’s report (E/CN.17/2001/4 and Add.1). He
elaborated the three-phase process undertaken to develop the
set of indicators for sustainable development and said the
report recommends that the Working Group could recognize the
important role countries have played in testing the
indicators, and endorse the core set of indicators.

Canada presented the report
of the International Expert Meeting on Information for
Decision Making and Participation held in September 2000 in
Aylmer, Québec, Canada. The meeting was co-sponsored by the
Government of Canada, the UN Department on Economic and Social
Affairs and the UN Environment Programme. The main conclusions
and recommendations of the meeting covered issues such as:
public access and participation; information integration and
coordination; the CSD Work Programme on indicators of
sustainable development; uses of traditional information;
harmonization and rationalization of data and indicators;
weaknesses in data collection and core data sets; remote
sensing and space technologies; Internet-based information
systems; and partnerships for financing and mutual support for
sustainable development information.

Following a general
discussion, the Co-Chairs prepared a summary that delegates
considered on Wednesday, 14 March. No comments were raised
from the floor. The Co-Chairs’ first draft document on
elements for the draft decision was also presented and
discussed on Wednesday. Extensive informal consultations took
place regarding text on indicators of sustainable development
on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. A revised version
of this document, which included a new section on indicators,
was distributed during Friday afternoon’s Plenary. During
discussions on this draft, the G-77/China, with Saudi Arabia,
stated that the new section on indicators was not acceptable
as a basis for negotiations at CSD-9.

CO-CHAIRS’ SUMMARY OF THE
DISCUSSION ON INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING AND
PARTICIPATION:Introduction:
The introduction indicates that the meeting agreed that
information is a cross-cutting issue critical to implementing
all dimensions of sustainable development.

Bridging the Data Gap:
On the section regarding indicators of sustainable development
and their use, the summary states that many participants
recognized the valuable role that a wide variety of
governments and, in particular, the testing countries, played
in developing the CSD Work Programme on indicators of
sustainable development. The summary notes further work that
might include: building basic information and statistical
capacity in developing countries; identification of indicators
for emerging problem areas such as disaster vulnerability; and
the identification of linkages among the different elements
and intergenerational aspects of sustainable development. The
summary also indicates that participants stressed that further
work should be voluntary, take into account national
particularities, be suited to country-specific conditions, and
not lead to conditionalities in the provision of aid and
support to developing countries. On improved data collection
and use, many countries emphasized the need for improved
coordination and harmonization of data collection, and several
delegations suggested that efforts are made toward
coordinating the work of the CSD and other organizations.

Improving the Availability
of and Access to Information: On
making information useful for decision making, the summary
states that many countries emphasized the continuing need for
the development and deployment of information standards. On
public access, the summary highlights discussions on:
Principle 10 of the Rio Declaration; the Århus Convention on
Access to Information; the important role of the media in
identifying emerging issues and raising awareness; and the
growing amount of information related to sustainable
development generated by the private sector. Several
delegations mentioned the need to find ways to balance the
positive effects of a market-driven system of information with
the continuing need to ensure free and open public access to
such information. On financial support for information
infrastructure and critical data-collection efforts, several
delegations emphasized the need to: develop strategic
partnerships between government agencies, civil society
groups, multilateral organizations and the private sector; and
strengthen assistance to developing countries and other
countries that wish to enhance capacities.

New Information
Technologies: It was generally
agreed that the development of new information and
communication technologies and the emergence of a new
"knowledge economy" offer vast potential for more
effective, wider and faster collection and dissemination of
information, including for public participation. A number of
delegations stressed the need to bridge the technology and
information gap between developed and developing countries, as
well as the challenge of meeting the information needs of
currently excluded groups such as the poor, women, rural
communities, Indigenous Peoples and other geographically and
socio-economically isolated groups. On space-based and remote
sensing technologies, some delegations pointed out the
importance of earth observation, geographical information
systems, video transmission technologies and Internet
technologies for satellite data to obtain the information
necessary for making policy and forecasts related to the
global environment.

ELEMENTS FOR A DRAFT
DECISION ON INFORMATION FOR DECISION MAKING AND PARTICIPATION:
General Considerations: This section
highlights the progress made to improve the quality, coherence
and cost effectiveness of data and information gathering, as
well as the infrastructural, technological, human capacity and
financial resource gaps in developing countries.

In discussions on this
section, the EU called for reference to Principle 10 of the
Rio Declaration and to public participation and environmental
justice. The G-77/China suggested deleting references to
international standards and to greater partnership between
developed and developing countries. Nigeria and Saudi Arabia
opposed language referring to environmental justice, since it
would raise issues of social and economic justice.

The revised elements for a
draft decision note that availability and use of information
are issues that cut across all chapters of Agenda 21 and its
implementation and emphasize: access to information and public
participation; investment in human beings; and the power of
stakeholder participation. The document states that:
developing countries suffering from inadequate infrastructure
and information systems and those parts of the population too
poor to tap into new information sources are being left
behind; and developing countries need technology transfer,
capacity building and new and additional resources to
modernize or establish their information systems.

Guidance to the Multilateral
System: This section recommends that
the international community take action in: function,
coherence and coordination of the international system;
training and capacity building; and indicators of sustainable
development.

In discussions on this
section, several delegates emphasized the Århus Convention
and civil society participation and access to information on
environmental issues, which was developed by the UN Economic
Commission for Europe (UN/ECE). Canada proposed deleting
references to the development of environmental statistics to
be linked to economic, social and environmental indicators
and, with the EU, to facilitating an increase in the number of
computers supplied to developing countries. Australia said the
accessibility guidelines for Internet information could take
into account people with special needs.

The revised elements for a
draft decision state that enhancing information for decision
making in order to achieve sustainable development will
require international cooperation and actions compatible with
national priorities and circumstances. In seeking to provide
assistance to developing countries and countries with
economies in transition to achieve sustainable development,
the Commission could recommend that the international
community agree to a number of actions. In the section on
improvements in functioning, coherence and coordination, the
revised document states that the Commission could:

encourage: international
organizations to rationalize their requests for
information with respect to voluntary national reports;
the adoption of accessibility guidelines for Internet
information; and countries and relevant international
organizations to develop information systems;

strengthen: access by
developing countries to information on sustainable
development and ensure that the commercialization of
information does not become a barrier to developing
countries in this regard; and cooperation and coordination
of global observations systems and research programmes;
and

promote: the development
of innovative technologies such as global mapping,
geographical information systems, video transmission
technology and Internet technology for satellite data.

In the section on training
and capacity building, the revised elements state that the
Commission could:

undertake training and
capacity building, particularly in developing countries
and with the cooperation of relevant international
organizations, which will help promote wide use of
information and communication technologies;

assist governments of
developing countries to develop technological
infrastructure for sustainable development through, inter
alia, technology transfer and implementation of
capacity building programmes; and

assist in strengthening
national information systems and statistical agencies to
ensure that efforts in data collection and analysis are
efficient and effective and are able to meet a range of
decision making requirements.

Indicators of Sustainable
Development: This section outlines
actions the Commission may wish to take regarding indicators
of sustainable development. In discussions on Wednesday, 14
March, the G-77/China suggested replacing paragraphs on the
CSD Work Programme, national-level indicators and a continuing
dialogue on indicators with text from ECOSOC and the
Statistical Commission as the focal point for the review of
indicators. He proposed text on the voluntary nature of
indicators and on the importance of preceding the review by
seeking the viewpoints of all countries. The US suggested that
the CSD should attempt to resolve issues related to indicators
before handing the topic to other agencies. Informal
discussions on indicators were held Wednesday afternoon,
Thursday and Friday.

This section states that the
Commission may wish to:

emphasize that
indicators used by the UN Secretariat in the context of
the follow-up to UN conferences and summits should be
developed with the full participation of all countries and
approved by the relevant intergovernmental bodies;

reiterate the need for
the CSD to review the full range of indicators, with full
participation and ownership of member States, with a view
to avoiding duplication, as well as ensuring the
transparency, consistency and reliability of these
indicators, taking into account that such indicators
should be of a voluntary nature, be suitable to
country-specific conditions, and should not lead to
conditionalities;

recognize that ECOSOC
has invited the Statistical Commission to serve as the
intergovernmental focal point for the review of the
indicators used by the UN system;

note the important role
that testing countries played in pilot testing in the CSD
Work Programme on indicators of sustainable development;

encourage the
development of indicators for the purpose of sustainable
development in line with national considerations and
priorities in defining and implementing national goals and
priorities for sustainable development and encourage the
involvement of all national stakeholders, as appropriate;
and

urge developed countries
and international organizations to assist developing
countries, as appropriate, in establishing the basic
statistical and data capacities for the development of
national indicators of sustainable development, through, inter
alia, financial support, capacity building, technical
assistance and twinning arrangements.

Recommendations for
Activities at the National Level:
This section elaborates actions on access to data and
information and to indicators of sustainable development,
which governments can encourage at the national level.

In discussions on this
section, the G-77/China suggested deleting proposals on, inter
alia: the appointment of a relevant institution or group
of institutions to integrate and harmonize data; further work
on indicators; and cooperation with international
organizations in capacity-building and technology development
programmes. Several delegations stressed the importance of
gender-disaggregated data.

The revised elements for a
draft decision encourage governments to the extent possible,
taking into account their priorities and national
circumstances, to consider:

collecting and providing
access to relevant information for decision making for
sustainable development, including gender-disaggregated
data, and incorporating Indigenous and traditional
knowledge into information bases for decision making;

assisting countries,
particularly developing countries, to use satellite and
remote sensing technologies for data collection and to
further improve ground-based observations;

establishing policy
guidelines to distinguish between specialized information
that can be effectively commercialized from information
that should be freely available to the public;

developing strategies to
improve access to information and information technologies
and strategic partnerships with NGOs and the private
sector to stimulate data generation;

incorporating
sustainable development performance information produced
by major groups in relevant decision making processes;

fostering sustainable
development by providing needed technological
infrastructure to developing countries and implementing
capacity building programmes.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
FOR AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT

On Tuesday, 13 March, the
Secretariat introduced the Secretary-General’s report on
international cooperation for an enabling environment for
sustainable development (E/CN.17/2001/5) and invited delegates
to make general comments. The comments were integrated into
the Co-Chairs’ summary of discussions.

On Thursday, 15 March,
delegates discussed the elements for a draft decision on
international cooperation for an enabling environment and made
a few general comments on the Co-Chairs’ summary of
discussions. On Friday, 16 March, the revised summary of
discussions and elements for a draft decision were circulated
and no comments were made.

CO-CHAIRS’ SUMMARY OF
DISCUSSION ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON AN ENABLING
ENVIRONMENT: Introduction:The
summary notes that delegates agreed that countries need an
enabling environment at both the domestic and international
levels in order to promote sustainable development, economic
growth, social development and environmental protection. This
enabling environment requires partnerships among developed and
developing countries, on the basis of common but
differentiated responsibilities and taking into account
national particularities.

Delegates also noted that
the discussion on an enabling environment and on the three
pillars of sustainable development should be linked to work in
other fora, especially the Third UN Conference on Least
Developed Countries and the international conference on
Financing for Development.

Globalization and
Sustainable Development:Delegates
recognized that globalization creates opportunities to
overcome poverty through trade liberalization and economic
growth. However, the uneven distribution of the impacts of
globalization was acknowledged, particularly in developing
countries where many have noted a growing disillusionment with
globalization, which is blamed for the increased polarization
of wealth and poverty. In response, some delegates called for,
inter alia, emphasis on poverty eradication, a
supportive external economic environment and global
governance.

Many delegations noted
inadequate levels of capacity building and technology transfer
and unfulfilled UN official development assistance (ODA)
targets. Some delegates suggested setting a framework to
achieve the UN ODA targets of 0.7%, while others said it
should be increased to 1.0% of gross national product (GNP) of
donor countries. Some delegates stated that ODA could play a
catalytic and complementary role to private sector resource
flows, while others suggested that private sector flows should
complement ODA. Many delegates noted foreign investments
remain highly concentrated and volatile.

Attention was drawn to
innovative mechanisms for financing sustainable development,
including the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and some
delegates stressed the importance of improving the work of the
GEF. Delegates further welcomed the linkages between areas
previously treated in isolation, such as trade, environment
and development. Some delegates called for eliminating
unnecessary duplication among bilateral and multilateral
development institutions and for harmonizing procedures among
donor countries, and others considered that all international
development assistance should be disbursed through national
governments in accordance with national priorities.

Many delegates called for
poverty eradication or external debt cancellation in heavily
indebted poor countries and improved market access for
developing countries. Many welcomed the "everything but
arms" initiative of the EU on duty- and quota-free access
for least developed country exports.

Delegates acknowledged the
role of: international development cooperation in enhancing
the trade competitiveness of developing countries; governments
in adopting strong and effective environmental and social
policies; and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in responding
to sustainability concerns. Some said trade obstacles should
be eliminated, especially subsidies that are trade distorting
and environmentally harmful, in particular, agricultural and
energy subsidies. Some delegations stressed that environmental
standards should not become trade barriers to products
imported from developing countries. Many highlighted that
increased market access for products from developing countries
and integration of developing countries in the world trade
system, notably through the WTO, would reduce the
marginalization of developing countries exacerbated by
globalization.

The responsibility of
countries in creating a domestic environment favorable to
private sources of support, through, inter alia,
national sustainable development strategies, was also
addressed. Some noted the role of the private sector in
promoting the development of cleaner technologies and its
contribution to sustainable development, including through the
Global Compact. Others said the current level of technology
transfer was not sufficient. Several delegates noted the
contribution of international civil society and the
empowerment of women in enabling sustainable development.

ELEMENTS FOR A DRAFT
DECISION ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR AN ENABLING
ENVIRONMENT: Generally, delegates
said the text could be more balanced regarding domestic
activities, including on governance issues, private sector
resource and trade flows, private investments and foreign
direct investment and trade benefits.

Introduction:
The introduction notes that the Working Group submits possible
elements for a draft decision to CSD-9. No comments were
raised on this section.

General Considerations:
This section addresses the general considerations for an
enabling international and domestic environment. Delegates’
comments on the first draft addressed, inter alia: an
enabling international economic environment; globalization;
the three pillars of sustainable development; technology
transfer; good governance; and economic growth and increased
trading opportunities.

The revised text recognizes
the need for an enabling economic environment, both at the
international and national levels, supportive of international
cooperation to achieve the goals of sustainable development
and through, inter alia, policies and governance
measures. It also takes note of the need to balance the three
pillars of sustainable development and highlights
globalization as a critical element of the international
economic environment. It recognizes that globalization has the
potential to lead to economic convergence but can also
increase inequalities among and within countries. Finally, it
states that expanding international trade and investment and
strengthening partnerships with the private sector can
contribute to sustainable development.

International Cooperation:
This section notes the role of the CSD in promoting an
enabling international environment within the framework of
Agenda 21.

Delegates raised several
issues on the first draft, including: the role of ODA; whether
the GEF should be replenished or improved; the effects of
globalization; protectionist trade practices, subsidies and,
in general, the world trade system; whether to aim at poverty
eradication or poverty reduction; common principles of
strategic planning; the need to distinguish developing
countries from countries with economies in transition (EITs);
coordination between international organizations and developed
countries in their assistance to developing countries; debt
relief; good governance; and eco-efficient production and
processing.

The revised section
recognizes that sustainable development will require
international cooperation and specific actions based on
national circumstances and suggests that the international
community:

reaffirm the role of the
UN in promoting international cooperation for development;

support developing
countries in their efforts toward sustainable development,
in accordance with their national development programmes;

promote efforts to make
development, trade and environment policies supportive of
sustainable development and poverty reduction;

encourage investment in
developing countries;

develop mechanisms for
mobilizing financial resources, including new financial
instruments and public-private partnerships;

enhance the transfer of
environmentally sound technologies to developing countries
and ensure that international assistance for technology
transfer is demand-driven;

assist developing
countries and EITs in capacity building to support
technology development and transfer, institutional
strengthening and human resource development; and

support regional and
sub-regional cooperation, including South-South
cooperation, in promoting sustainable development.

Recommendations at the
National Level: This section guides
governments, taking into account their national circumstances
and with the support of the international community, on
actions to create an enabling environment.

On the first draft,
delegates discussed: meeting ODA targets; eligibility for the
HIPC initiative; trade liberalization; national circumstances
and priorities; a sound macro-economic framework; good
governance, including transparency and absence of corruption;
and domestic resource mobilization. India urged delegates to
confine the elements of the draft decision to international
cooperation, consistent with Rio+5 language and Saudi Arabia
called for deletion of the entire section.

The final document
encourages governments to:

create an enabling
domestic environment through, inter alia, the rule
of law, capacity building and implementation of economic
and social policies;

formulate and implement
national sustainable development programmes;

improve opportunities
for the private sector, NGOs and major groups to
contribute to sustainable development, economic planning
and poverty eradication; and

develop and implement
policies and incentives that integrate the three pillars
of sustainable development.

CLOSING PLENARY

On Friday afternoon, 16
March, Co-Chair Drayton introduced the Draft Report of the
Working Group (E/CN.17/ISWG.II/2001/L.1) for adoption, drawing
delegates’ attention to the revised Co-Chairs’ summaries
and elements for the draft decisions on information for
decision making and participation and on international
cooperation for an enabling environment.

Sudan called for reference
in the Report of the Working Group to interventions by the
G-77/China and Saudi Arabia regarding the section on
indicators in the revised elements for a draft decision on
information for decision making and participation. Delegates
then adopted the Draft Report. Co-Chair Drayton thanked all
delegates for their time, good humor and patience, and
encouraged delegates to exchange views until CSD-9 in order to
resolve their differences. The meeting concluded at 4:00 pm.

A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE
meeting

THE COUNTDOWN

The turn of events towards
the end of the intersessional working group provided a
surprise twist to a meeting that some anticipated would raise
few contentious issues and initially predicted would conclude
mid-week. Due to time constraints, following protracted
informal consultations on indicators, the session ended
without a second reading of the revised elements for draft
decisions. As a result, there were diverging views regarding
whether both outputs provided an "agreeable" basis
for CSD-9 negotiations, with developing countries expressing
displeasure at the inclusion of some elements on indicators in
the document on information for decision making. Some
developed countries also informally expressed dissatisfaction
with some elements on international cooperation for an
enabling environment.

Until the closing Plenary,
delegates seemed to implicitly agree that both drafts would
serve as a basis for negotiations at CSD-9, but developments
in the closing Plenary may have turned back the clock. Many
participants predicted that governments would revert to
positions held at the start of the intersessional and
"start from scratch" at CSD-9, while others said
entire negotiating approaches were bound to change. Whereas
the two intersessional working groups considered the CSD-9
agenda items –energy, transport, atmosphere, information and
international cooperation – independently, some cautioned
that CSD-9 will face a "package deal" negotiating
strategy, where delegates may negotiate all the themes
together. This could potentially re-open issues already
negotiated and concluded during the energy, transport and
atmosphere sessions held prior to the session on information
and international cooperation.

An understanding of these
developments requires a review of the week’s proceedings vis
à vis its mandate and purpose and several intervening
factors. Although participants departed with an appreciation
that some progress was made on the issues under discussion,
they recognized that a number of missed opportunities will
constrain efforts to advance the agenda to the level they
originally desired and thought possible. An examination of
these facets provides the backdrop for assessing where we
stand on the threshold of CSD-9, which is less than a month
away.

LOOKING BACK TO FACE THE
FUTURE

The CSD intersessional
working groups were established to provide a forum for
dialogue in a non-political environment where participants
could draw out issues requiring consideration by governments
for further action. Accordingly, the key intersessional
output, namely the elements for draft decisions, should
contain elements locating both the political and consensus
areas for action at CSD sessions.

Participants at the 2001
intersessionals acknowledged that a healthy, albeit
insufficient, exchange of views took place. On the one hand,
debate on information for decision making drew out aspects
such as access to information for developing countries, the
role of the media, bridging the "digital divide,"
capacity building for information technology adoption,
narrowing the inequitable distribution of benefits from a
knowledge-based economy, public participation and indicators.
The debate on international cooperation for an enabling
environment also highlighted a range of macro-economic and
domestic factors that have constrained the evolution of a
conducive international climate for the realization of
sustainable development.

On the other hand, it was
clear that not only was the opportunity for the mutual
exchange of country experiences lacking, but that progress was
impeded – and in some cases curtailed – on these and other
equally important matters such as: information standards;
environmental justice; linkage between the two issues and the
overriding CSD themes of poverty and production and
consumption patterns; and the link between information for
decision making and participation and international
cooperation. Although a number of factors are responsible for
the working group’s inability to fully explore and reach
conclusive agreement on these issues, the primary problem lay
in what some participants called an "obsession with
indicators."

INDICATORS OF THE PROBLEM

The working group’s
trouble with indicators started following the introduction of
the Secretary-General’s report on information for decision
making and participation. The presentation focused exclusively
on indicators, rather than the broader aspects of information
and participation, and it suggested the
"endorsement" of a "core" set of
indicators for use in national reporting on sustainable
development. Many developing countries interpreted this as an
attempt to introduce a new form of conditionality for the
disbursement of development assistance earmarked for the Rio
outputs. They were also loath to endorse anything, in light of
the fact that only 22 countries had participated in the
indicators exercise, contrary to an ECOSOC resolution
requiring involvement of all countries. The G-77/China would
not budge despite assurances through both formal and informal
consultations with other governments and with the Secretariat
that the indicators are voluntary, and despite evidence that
other stakeholders and a number of developed countries, who
chose to keep silent and let the G-77/China "do the
fighting," were equally opposed to anything but voluntary
indicators. Thus, as with the previous week’s discussion on
finance and technology, the G-77/China sought negotiated
compromise text to settle the matter of indicators, which did
not materialize.

TIMING AND STRATEGY GET IN
THE WAY

Although indicators took
center stage, additional factors contributed to the
constrained dialogue and events of the week, including timing,
structure, strategy and participation. Many participants were
categorical in stating that the energy experts meeting held
the week prior to the intersessionals had "poisoned"
the atmosphere for dialogue. A related observation was that,
with the exception of information for decision making and
participation, all other issues under consideration at the
intersessionals were – in some manner – related to the
climate change talks, which are controversial and highly
sensitive. Others attributed the problem to the structure of
the intersessionals, which encourages participants to quickly
slip into "negotiating mode" whenever divergences
surface.

Added to these reasons is a
recognition that developing countries have lost patience with
negotiations that do not deliver – in particular the Rio
process, which had initially been perceived as an
unprecedented developed country commitment to a holistic
approach to the global environmental agenda, including the
factoring in of economic choices.

Institutional memory loss
across all regional groups – a majority of the participants
from both developed and developing countries were either new
to the CSD process or had been in it for less than two years
– was also deemed a severe constraint. The debate, polarized
by the political differences, could have been balanced by
technical input of knowledgeable stakeholders, who were
absent. These factors combined to create an "unfortunate
conclusion" to the initial consideration of otherwise
interesting and significant subjects.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR CSD-9

Looking toward CSD-9,
participants expect the session to be one of the most
difficult in the CSD’s history. Despite the CSD Chair’s
promise of "no night sessions," they seem
inevitable, even as early as the first week. In addition to
the lost opportunities to make progress at this intersessional
meeting, some anticipate that CSD-9 will be hampered as
governments look ahead to Earth Summit 2002. They noted that
negotiations at CSD-4 became more intractable as governments
prepared for the Rio+5 review and suggested that this
intersessional meeting mirrored that trend. Some offered
forecasts that "countries will be jockeying for
positions" at CSD-9 and that they began to do so at the
intersessionals. The opportunity that many believe Earth
Summit 2002 offers to overhaul the sustainable development
agenda poses a big challenge for satisfactorily addressing the
CSD-9 issues in 2001.

Despite the difficulties
encountered on the issue of information for decision making
and participation, some anticipate that this issue will
provide the most fruitful output of CSD-9 since it has no
competing processes and due to the fact that many of the
issues raised on international cooperation were also discussed
at CSD-8. Still, participants fear the CSD-9 negotiations will
be starting at such a low point that it will be a
"Herculean task" to move forward on the issues.
Whereas delegates spilling out of the ECOSOC Chamber seemed to
attach great importance to the Bureau’s decisions in the
outcome of CSD-9, participants’ negotiating capacity –
strategy and institutional memory – factor even more greatly
into the session’s success.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR BEFORE
CSD-9

MINISTERIAL MEETING ON
ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE:
This meeting will be held from 19-22 March 2001, in Berlin,
Germany. Co-organized by UNEP and the German Ministry for the
Environment, this meeting will provide a platform for
environment ministers and senior officials from developed and
developing countries and other stakeholders to discuss areas
of mutual concern in the environment, development and trade
debate. For more information contact: Sophie Forster; tel: +41
22-917-8620; e-mail: sophie.forster@unep.ch;
Internet: http://www.unep.ch/etu/etp/events/upcming/berlin.htm

SOUTH EAST ASIAN CONFERENCE
ON URBANISATION AND GOOD URBAN GOVERNANCE:
This conference will be held from 20-22 March 2001, in
Jakarta, Indonesia. The conference’s objectives include
sharing regional experience on good urban governance practices
and critically discussing the roles of various key actors and
central government in promoting good urban governance. For
more information, contact: Sri Husnaini Sofjan, The Urban
Governance Initiative, c/o United Nations Development
Programme, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; tel: +60 3-255-9122; fax:
+60 3-253-2361; e-mail: tugi@undp.org;
Internet: www.tugi.apdip.net

INTEGRATION, TRADE AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP:
This workshop will be held from 23-25 March 2001, in
Montevideo, Uruguay. The workshop will address Uruguay's
challenges in the Mercosur, FTAA and WTO context. For more
information, contact: Gerardo Evia, e-mail: gevia@adinet.com.uy;
Internet: http://www.ambiental.net/sustentable2025

MEETING ON THE IMPROVEMENT
OF THE PAN-EUROPEAN INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FORESTS
MANAGEMENT: This meeting will
convene from 26-27 March 2001, in Triesenberg, Liechtenstein.
The workshop aims to provide an opportunity for a wider group
of national and international experts to share experiences and
views on improving the pan-European indicators for sustainable
forest management and to give input to the work of the
"Advisory Group" on the improvement of these
indicators. For more information, contact: Ministerial
Conference for the Protection of Forests in Europe, Vienna,
Austria; tel: +43 1-710-7702; fax: +43 1-710-7702-13; e-mail: liaison.unit@lu-vienna.at;
Internet: http://www.minconf-forests.net

GLOBALIZATION AND HIGHER
EDUCATION – VIEWS FROM THE SOUTH:
This conference will be held from 27-29 March 2001, in Cape
Town, South Africa. Conference themes include: higher
education in transition in the countries and regions of the
South; relations in higher education between the advanced and
the less industrialized countries; and the marketization of
higher education and implications for less industrialized
countries. For more information, contact: Society for Research
in Higher Education; London, UK; tel: +44 20-7637-2766; fax:
+44 20-7637-2781; e-mail: globalHE@srhe.ac.uk;
Internet: http://www.srhe.ac.uk/southafrica/globalHE.htm

MEETING OF ENVIRONMENT
MINISTERS OF THE AMERICAS: This
meeting will convene from 29-30 March 2001, in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada. Environment ministers from the US, Mexico,
Caribbean and Latin America will attend a special meeting
during the AMERICANA International Environment Trade Show and
Conference in Montreal to set an agenda for significant
contributions at the Third Summit of the Americas. For more
information, contact: Environment Canada; tel: +1
819-997-2800; fax: +1 819-953-2225; e-mail: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca;
Internet: http://www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html

WORK 2001 – FIRST
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMPLOYMENT CREATION IN
DEVELOPMENT: This conference will be
held from 2-5 April 2001, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The
conference will explore themes such as employment-intensive
construction, transportation and employment, and tourism as an
employment generator. For more information, contact:
Department of Civil Engineering, South Africa; tel: +27
11-717-7137; fax: +27 11-339-1762; e-mail: filip@civen.civil.wits.ac.za;
Internet: http://www.work2001.cjb.net

INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CONFERENCE 2001:
This conference will take place from 5-6 April 2001, in
Manchester, UK. Issues to be considered include development,
policy perspectives, environmental and social aspects of
sustainable development, instruments, country/regional
profiles, Agenda 21 initiatives, NGOs and local action. For
more information, contact: Elaine White, tel: +44
1-274-530408; fax: +44 1-274-530409; e-mail: elaine@erpenv.demon.co.uk;
Internet: http://www.erpenvironment.org/cfrence/sd.htm

NINTH SESSION OF THE
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
The ninth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
will convene in New York from 16-27 April 2001. This session
will focus on: atmosphere; energy/transport; information for
decision making and participation; and international
cooperation for an enabling environment. The topic of the
multilateral stakeholder dialogue will be energy and
transport. For more information contact: Andrey Vasilyev,
Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1 212-963-5949;
fax: +1 212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org;
Internet: http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd9/.
For information for major groups, contact: Zehra Aydin-Sipos,
Division for Sustainable Development; tel: +1 212-963-8811;
fax: +1 212-963-1267; e-mail: aydin@un.org.

TENTH SESSION OF THE
COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (PREPCOM I):
The tenth session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development, acting as the first session of the Preparatory
Committee for the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable
Development, will be held in New York from 30 April - 2 May
2001. For more information, contact: Andrey Vasilyev, Division
for Sustainable Development; tel:+1-212-963-5949; fax:
+1-212-963-4260; e-mail: vasilyev@un.org;
Internet: http://www.un.org/rio+10/index.html

This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin
ï¿½ enb@iisd.org is written and
edited by Wendy Jackson wendy@iisd.org,
Violette Lacloche violette@iisd.org,
and Wagaki Mwangi wagaki@iisd.org.The
Digital Editor is Leila Mead leila@iisd.org.
The Editor is Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D. pam@iisd.org
and the Director of IISD Reporting Services is Langston James
"Kimo" Goree VI kimo@iisd.org.
French translation by Mongi Gadhoum mongi@iisd.org.
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